The "Jungle Is Massive" Experience

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After a two hour drive, another 2 hour four-wheel drive (through some VERY hairy bush terrain) and a 2 hour trek up a muddy vine-entangled, fern-covered mountain, Qua, Lee, Ben and myself found ourself well and truly in "Da Jungle"! And it was "Massif!"

Thankfully having watched the 5 minute instruction video of the "Gibbon Experience" earlier, we kind of knew what to do when we were given a handful of harnesses, carabeenas and pulleys by our friendly Lao guide, and with a big smile, told to zip off on a series of flying foxes to the treehouse we would be staying in for the next 3 days.

To be quite honest, I was a bit uncertain about paying the MaSSiF (almost as massif as de Jungle!) 1.5 million Kip (about $150-odd bucks) fee for the 3 day experience, but as soon as I found myself flying 200 meters above a misty ravine suspended by a single line of steel cable half-a-Km long, in order to get to my 40m-above-ground-level tree house abode... I decided that it was worth it!

Even if you are a die-hard gibbon enthusiast, chances may be slim that you'll actually sight one of the fuzzy primates, but even being woken up at 6am in the top of a tree to the sounds of their tuning-a-radio-like 'singing' is a gibbon-enough experience for most.

After being in absolute awe of these tree houses and flying foxes, I've become inspired to try and build one at dad's some day. Karri trees would be the perfect support for a medium-sized platform, and definitely strong enough to string a couple of hundred metres of cable from! Anyone wanna help me do it? 😊 Maybe I should employ some offshore labour from a few Lao guys (they strung them all up by hand, and built the treehouses using only Massif Jungle materials! Remarkable!)

After 3 days, and about 50-odd k's of mountain trekking under our belt, (as well as probably 10 ks worth of flying through the air from tree to tree!) We were quite happy to find the nearest Beer Lao outlet 4-hours away in Huay Xai and relax before heading down the Mekong on the 2-day 'falang' slow boat ride to Luang Prabang. Seeing as pictures say a thousand words (possibly each, i don't know?) I'll leave it at that and put up some photos! Pop gan mai! Sohk Dee!!

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Comments

[Angie]

more more more
WOW!! That is awesome. More photos... more blogging! Some of us cant walk! and need to read! Looks like you are both well.. Hug my sister for me! And keep on adding photos!

[Patty]

World Bohemienne
Hi Charlie! You are completely fucked up, but I love you for this reason. Enjoy your new trip, I'm going to read you in the blog. Have a nice time, give a kiss to Asia from me. I will wait you in Europe again. Patrizia (from Italy)

[Benny]

WTF!!!
Wow man what the hell have you been up to?? Swingin with de Gibbons! Hell Chaz it looks like you're having a good time!!! Missin you bro. That morning shot of the Jungle could be one of the greatet photos ever!!! I love it! Keep posting man. Love Benny

[chazlie]

patttttttyyy!!!!
Bella!! How are you? It's been so long since I heard from you! Thank you for getting in touch on my travelblog! I knew it would raise some suspicion if I wrote on it again! :) So when are you coming to Australia? You always havea place to stay if you come. Have you heard from Tal? Do you know where in the world she is? ahh, how I miss those days in Spain! peace, sister. Hope to see you again one day! un beso fuerte, Charlie. xo

[yermum]

da jungle
Wow! it never looked that good when I was there. (course there was a war going on...)I don't know why you'd ever want to come home. I could live in one of those...hmmm...a bus?...or... luv u

[Lyn]

wow swingin thru da trees!!
You an Qua look like you're doin alright. I'm in Syd, soon to head up the east coast to the Daintree in my new van.. well new to me! Should meet up with Alaya sometime soon.. maybe in Cairns. I'm turning green with envy just thinking bout your tree house trip... hugs to you both luv lyn xx

[Maggie]

Are you my cousin???
WHat's up Charlie in Australia....this could be a long shot but you look exactly like my mother's sister Marsha....is that your mother? If so, we are first cousins and I live in California and would like to meet you and your sister one of these days :) If you are on Facebook, you can look me up Maggie Steinhauser in Laguna Beach. My mother is Marilyn Ashwell, your mom's "other" sis, I think.